Automatic electrical power can opener



DBG f8, M111964 .fA. il.. A. fYPosENER 535159597112 .AUTOMATIC '.EECTRICL CROWER VCAN `PEN'R D S. 1964 A L. A. PosENER 3,159,912

ALL'IQMATIC ELECTRICAL POWER CAN OPENER Filed March 5, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 JNVENToR. Aiwa/w A? ,0mm/f# De@ 8, 1964 A. l.. A. PosENER 3,159,912-

AUTOMATIC ELECTRICAL POWER CAN OPENER Filed March 5, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 the apparatus not constituting parts of the present invention, reference may be made to this patent.

. Referring to the drawings (particularly FGS. l and 2), the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a housing represented generally at 1t), wlrch includes three body sections, namely, a front section 12 having a vertical side or front wall 14, a rear section 16 coupled to the front section by a screw member i8, and a cover section 2i) mounted on the rear section 16 to cover a knife sharpening portion of the apparatus indicated generally at 150.

Mounted within the housing 10 by an arm member 22 which extends from the side wall 14 is an electric motor 24. Coupled to the electric motor for rotation therewith is a shaft 26, which extends on either side of the motor The end of the shaft 26 adjacent the side wall 1d forms a gear 2S. The gear 28 engages a gear 29 in a reduction gearing arrangement, represented generally at Beil. The gear 29 is staked pinion 3l) which engages gear 32. Gear 32 is affixed to shaft member 34 which is journalled in the side wall 14 for rotation about the centerline axis of gear 32. Extending around the shaft 34 and supported within a tubular opening 36 in the side wall 14 is the hub or hollow shaft 38 of a driving wheel 4d. The driving wheel 46 abuts an outer surface of the side wall 14 adjacent the tubular opening 36 andis coupled to the shaft 3d by a screw 42. In this manner, the driving wheel 4G rotates with the gear 32 in response to rotation of the motor shaft 36.

The driving wheel 4t) includes an annular toothed por tion 44 adapted to Contact the under side of the bead 46 of a can 48 (illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5). linme-r diately adjacent the gear lor toothed portion 4d is an annular shoulder 50. The annular shoulder G extends radially outward beyond the toothedportion 44 between the toothed portion and the side wall 14. The toothed portion 44 is proportioned to allow the annular shoulder Sil to act as aV stop for the can 4S. Speciiically, the shoulder 5t) engages can bead 4d to prevent the outer surface of the toothed portion 44 from contacting the side of the can 4d. This prevents the driving wheel 40 from damaging a paper label that might be on the can 4e; and

it avoids the possibility of a torn label binding the driving wheel 40. Y

Positioned along the side wall 14 and apertured at 7d to allow the driving wheel 4d to extend therethrough is a mounting plate 52. The mounting plate 52 is movabiy coupled Vto the side wall 14 by `a pair of screw members 54 and 5e.y As illustrated in FIGURE l and described in detail in the aforementioned US. patent, the screw member 54 extends through an opening 5S in the mounting plate 52 and is coupled `to a cylindrical hub 60. The hub 69 forms a component part of a hand-operated lever arm 62 and is mounted for rotation in an opening 64 in the side wall '14. The screw Sd is threaded into wall 14 through a longitudinal slot @d in the mounting plate 52. Due to this arrangement, movement of an end 68 of the lever arm 62 in a clockwise direction (with reference to FIG. 1) produces an upward sliding'movement of the mounting plate 52 relative to the side vertical wall 14.

Mounting plate 52 has a shoulder member 72 extending outwardly (i.e., towards the front of the apparatus) from'the bottom of its lower part. The shoulder member 72, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, is engaged by the side of the can 48 when it ispositioned for opening. The shoulder 72 positions the can laterally from the outer face of the driving wheel 4d. It also acts as a guide for the can as it rotates in response to the rotary movement of 4the driving wheel 4t).

Extending outward and down from the mounting plate 52, at a point above the driving wheel 40, is a support member or projection 74. A cutter 7S is rotatably supported on the support member 74 by a screw 76. The rotary cutter 78 is positioned so that its annular cutting edge 80 can be moved immediately adjacent the outer 5, surface of the driving wheel` 4i). Further downward movement of the rotary cutter 78 causes cutting edge 80 to puncture the top of the can 4d directly adjacent the inner side of the bead 46. At this point it cooperates w1th the driving wheel 49 andthe guide, shoulder 72 to clamp the can d in a cutting position with the under side of `the bead 46 bearing on the toothed portion of the driving wheel 4:3. Rotary movement of the driving wheel 49 thereafter rotates the can 43 because the teeth of gear 44 grip bead 45. The result is that the cutting edge severs the top from the can 4% adjacent the inner side of the bead 46.

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, a sleeve member S2 supported on screw 76 acts as a bearing for the rotary cutter 78. Preferably, the sleeve member 82 is formed of a plastic-like material such as nylon or Tellen. This provides a long life bearing for the rotary cutter 78 and it substantially prevents the cutter from freezing due to impaction of foreign matter between the cutter 7S and its support member 74. t

Also coupled to the mounting plate 52, at one side of the rotary cutter 73, is a spring-loaded arm 84 carrying a magnet 86. The arm S4 Vis normally maintained in a horizontal plane outward from the mounting plate 52 to provide close spacing between the top of the can 43 and the magnet 86 when the can 43 is positioned for opening, as illustrated in FIGURE 4. In this manner, the magnet 86 readily attracts the top of the can 43 and the spring biased arm 34 moves downwardly as indicated in FIGURE 5, to allow the top to engage the magnet. After the top of the can 4S is completely severed from the can, the spring returns the arm 84 (and the top of the can) to its normal position. v

To selectively energize the electric motor 24 to produce the above-described rotary movement of the driving wheel 40, the present invention utilizes a mechanically operated switch 88. The switch, which is most clearly represented in FIGURE 3, operates in an electrical circuit illustrated in FIGURE 3A. In particular, the switch arrangement includes anormally open switch 88 connected between one side of the winding of motor 24 and an electrical power plug 90. The plug 90 is connectible to a conventional volt 60 cycle A.C. power supply. To provide for the selective closing of the switch SS, an arm member 92 is coupled to the movable switch arm g4 of the switch 83. The arm member 92, which includes a vertical slot 96, extends upward from the switch 88 and through an opening 98 in the top or'V the front section 12 of the housing 10 (FIG. 3). Extending from the rear of the wall 14 through the slot 96 is a lug 10). The slot 96 is longer than the lug 100 to allow the arm 92 to be movable in a vertical direction, guided by the lug 100. Extending around the arm 92, between a shoulder 102 and the upper mounting surface of the switch S8, is a spring-member 104. The spring member 104 normally urges the arm 92 upward to extend beyond the opening 96. In this position the switch S3 is open to prevent current ow to the motor 24. Since the arm member 92 normally extends above the top of the housing the rotary cutter 78 into cutting position with the driving wheel 40 engages the arm 92. Downward movement of the lever arm 62 thus causes the arm 92 to mechanically close the switch, thereby completing an electrical circuit to energize the motor 24.

When the lever arm 62 is in a position to effect an energizing of the motor 24, it is engaged by a locking arrangement that holds the arm in a down position and thereby maintains the switch 88 closed. This permits the operator, after once energizing the motor, to move away from the apparatus of the present invention and perform other acts within the kitchen. Preferably, the locking apparatus of the present invention includes, as illustrated in FIGURE 6, a locking pin 106 extending from the lower surface of the lever arm 62. The locking pin 106 has an enlarged, diamond-shaped end section 108 which 10 the lever arm 62 in shiftingy passes through an opening 110 in the top of the front section 12 of the housing 10. In passing through the opening 110 the pin 106 engages and is forced Within the central opening 112 of a retaining spring 114. The retaining spring 114 is positioned within the slot 116 formed by cooperating adjacent surfaces of the top of the front section 12 and a plate 118.

To further provide complete automatic operation of the can opener apparatus of the present invention, means Vare included for automatically shutting oi the motor 24 after the top has' been completely severed from the can 48. Preferably, the automatic shut-ofi arrangement of the present invention, as illustrated'in FGS. 3-5, includes a normally closed switch 120. The switch 124i is electrically connected between the motor 24 and the plug 96, thereby permitting the completion of an electrical circuit for the motor 24 when switch 88 is operated.

The switch 120, as schematically illustrated, includes a pair of fixed electrical contacts 122 and 124 spaced above'and belowa movable switch arm 126. The switch 'arm-126 normally engages the contact 124 when a can is not i-nthe opener (illustrated in FIG. 4). When a can is placed in position, arm 1726 engages contact 122 (switch 120 closed) and when the top has been cornpletely severed from the can/8, arm 126 is intermediate contacts 122 and 124 which opens the electrical circuit including the motor 24 thereby. causing the motor to shut off.

Switch 128 must be held closed when a can is not inserted in the opener so that the motor may be energized to perform other operations of the apparatus. For exlample, as disclosed in the drawings, the apparatus includes a knife Sharpener indicated generally at 150. It must speciiically be operable when a can is not being opened.

To eiect'the automatic opening of the switch 120, the switching apparatus of the present invention includes an arm member 128v extending through the mounting structure of the switch 120. The arm member 128 is coupled to the switch arm 126 within the mounting structure and'includes an enlarged portion 130 which extends upward along therear of the' side wall 14. The enlarged section 136 has a vertical slot 132'forrned therein. Extending from thewall 14through the slot 132 is a lug member 134'having anannular slot 136 therein. Positioned aroundsth'e' lug'134' and disposed within the slot 136 is'a snap ring 138; The snap ring 138 extends radially'beyond the lug 134 to engage the sides of the enlarged portion 13adjacent the slot 132. In this manner the combination of the lug 134 and the snap ring 138 providesa vertical guide for the arm member 128.

As illustrated, the arm member 128 extends downward through the mounting structure of the switch 120. Positioned around the arm 128 between a shoulder 140 and the lower surface of the mounting structure for the switch 126 is a spring 142. The spring 142 normally exerts a downward force on the shoulder 148 to urge the arm 128 in a position to keep the switch 124i closed (with the switch arm 126 engaging the contact 124).

Coupled to the enlarged section 130 to extend horizontally outward through aperture 145 in wall 14 and an opening 144 in the mounting plate 52 is a can guiding arm 146. Due to the spring 142 the can guiding arm 145 is eiectively spring-loaded and is normally positioned (absent a can) along the mounting plate 52 at the upper edge of the driving wheel 40, as illustrated in FlGURES 1 and 4. In positioning the can 48 in cutting position, with the bead 46 resting on the toothed portion of the driving wheel, the can guiding arm 146 is raised to engage and rest upon the top of the can 48, as illustrated in FIGURE 5. This is accomplished by moving the lever arm 62 away from the top of the housing to move the rotary cutter 78 upward from the driving wheel 40. This causes the lower edge of the opening 144 in mounting plate 52 to lift the can guiding arm 146 and the ,ar-m'member 128. The movement of the arm member 128 produces a movement of the switch arm 126 (mounted in switch 1120 and shown schematically in FIG. 3A). Downward movementof the lever arm 62 then allows the spring biased can guiding arm 146 to engage the top of the can 48 a's illustrated in FIG. 5.

With the canl guiding arm 145 resting on top of the can the spring 142 is in a state of compressionv and'V causes the arm 146 to press tightly against the top of the can 48. In this manner the can-guiding arm` 14d-cooperates with the driving wheel 40 and its shoulder member'72 to maintain the can 48 in a cutting position relative to the rotary cutter 78. Also, when the can guiding arm 1'46 is resting on the top ofthe can 48 the arm member 128 isV positioned to cause the switch arm 126 to engage-the other contact 122, thereby again completing the electrical circuit to the motor 24.

At vertical positions for the can guiding arm 1456 between its normal position, as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 4, and its raised position illustrated in FIGURES, the switch is open. Thus,- when, by- 'operationl of the rotary cutter 78 and the driving wheel 40, the top h'aS been severed from the can 48, the spring 142 forces the can guiding arm and arm member 128 downward to open switch 12? which interrupts the `electrical circuit including motor 24. In this manner the motor 24 is auto` matically shut offv when the tophas been completely severed from the can 48.

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, a fan 25'is ixedly supported on the shaft 26 between the motor 24 and the grinding wheel 148 of the knife Sharpener 150. As the shaft 26rotates iniresponse to the operation of the motor 24, the fan blows air past the motor 24, thereby eifecting a cooling of the motor.

A preferred arrangement for the fan`is illustrated in FIGURE 7. As represented, the'fan 25' is coupled to the shaft 26 at a side of the motor 24 remote from the grinding wheel 148. Pressure iitted between-theA cover section 2G and a lower surface of the housing 10 is a dust shield 151. The dust shield 151 includes an opening 152 permitting the shaft 26 to pass therethrough. The dust shield 152 together withthe housing 10, forms'a' compartment 153 for the motor 24 which is isolatedfrom the grinding wheel 148. Thus, the fan 25', in turn,cools the motor 24 without allowing shavings, dust and the like, from the area around the grinding wheel from entering into contact with the motor 24.

What is claimed is:

1. In a can opener, the combination of:

a housing;

a driving wheel rotatably coupled to thehousing, said driving wheel including an annular toothed portion for engaging the under sideof a bead of afcan and an annular shoulder immediately adjacent and eX- tending radially beyond the toothed portion between the toothed portion and the housing for engaging the side of the bead to prevent the toothed portion from contacting the side of the can below the bead; a can guide projecting outwardly from the wall of said housing to bear against the side of said can thereby holding the can away from contact with the flat side of said drive wheel;

a cutter movably mounted on the housing for shifting movement into cutting position with the driving wheel by engaging the top of the can adjacent the bead, and means to steady a can during a can-opening operation and to detect the severing of the top from the can.

2. An electric can opener comprising:

a housing;

an electric motor mounted within the housing;

a relatively shiftable drive wheel and cutter carried by the housing and adapted to engage the side and top,

respectively, of a can for severing the top from the can;

means for coupling the drive wheel to the motor so rthat the drive wheel rotates to turn the can in contact with the cutter;

electrical circuit means including a normally open switch and a normally closed switch connected in series with the motor operable to energize the motor;

hand-operated means supported on said housing and adapted to Yshift the drive wheel and the cutter into cutting engagement with a can and to close the normally open switch to energize the motor;

Y lock means for engaging the hand-operated means to maintain it in the position which closes the normally Y open switch, said means including a spring constricted aperture in said housing and a diamond-shaped projection on said hand-operated means; and support means'resting on the top of the can for opening the normally closed switch when the top is completely severed from the can to shut ot the motor. 3. In an electric'can opener in which a can is supported with a serrated drive wheel bearing against the lower edge of the bead on the can and a cutting blade cuts the top adjacent the bead, multiple stabilizing and support means for a can in an operating position comprising, in combination,

rst means including an annular shoulder formed integral withp the serrated drive wheel to bear against the outer edge of the can bead to restrict the contact of said serrated wheel to the bead and to steady the can,

second means projecting outwardly `from the housing of said can opener to bear against a sidel of the can remote from the bead of the can to hold said can side away wfrom the adjacent face of said drive wheel and to steady the can, and

third means supported for vertical movement with respect to the can to thereby steady the can but biased to bear against the top` of said can.

4. In a device for automatically opening a can, the combination of a housing,

a serrated drive wheel rotatably mounted in a vertical wall of said housing,

motor means operable to rotate said drive wheel,

a plate supported for vertical movement with respect to said wall,

a circular cutter rotatably supported on said plate in a plane forming an acute angle with the plane lof rotation of said drive wheel,

manual means operable `to move said plate upwardly and away from said drive wheel so that the upper bead of a can may be placed against said serrated drive wheel intermediate said drive wheel and said Y cutter and to move said plate downwardly and toward said drive wheel after a can has been inserted to cause the cutter blade to puncture the top of said can adjacent the bead, means cooperating with a part of said wall to hold said plate in its downward-most position, said holding means including an aperture with an inner annulus defined by a part of said wall, a spring disposed interior of said annulus to resiliently restrict the opening and a diamond shaped projection extending outwardly from said plate to move into said aperture and be held therein by said annular spring,

support means for a can including an annular shoulder formed integral with and adjacent said serrated drive wheel to bear against the bead of a can,

a can guide projecting outwardly from the wall of said housing to bear against the side of said can thereby to hold thecan away from contact with the at side of said drive wheel, and Y a downwardly biased, vertically movable can guiding arm which bears against the top of a can,

means to detect the vertical position of said can guiding arm,

means responsiveto the upper-most and lower-most positions of said arm to operate said motor means and responsive to an intermediate position of said arm, in which position the outward end of said arm depends into a can after its top its severed therefrom, to interrupt the operation of said motor means, and

means responsive to any non-holding position of said plate to stop theV operation of said motor means.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,148,130 2/39 Murdock 30-9 2,348,227 5/44 Scott 30-4 2,591,181 4/52 McLean 30-9 X 2,592,937 4/52 McLean 309 2,775,075 12/56 McMaster et al. 51-128 2,810,952 10/57 Sundell 30-4 2,825,963 3/58 Sykes et al. 30-4 2,879,589 3/59 Ulke 30-4 2,896,319 7/59 Pinette 30-4 2,897,637 8/59 Bodle 51-128 2,952,073 9/60 Congdon 30-4 2,997,785 8/61 Pinette 30-4 3,031,751 5/62 Hart 30-4 3,059,332 10/62 Chappell et al. 30-4 3,060,568 10/62 Niesenson 30-4 3,066,409 12/62 Smith 30-4 WILLTAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. JOHN C. CHRISTIE, Examiner. 

1. IN A CAN OPENER, THE COMBINATION OF: A HOUSING; A DRIVING WHEEL ROTATABLY COUPLED TO THE HOUSING, SAID DRIVING WHEEL INCLUDING AN ANNULAR TOOTHED PORTION FOR ENGAGING THE UNDER SIDE OF A BEAD OF A CAN AND AN ANNULAR SHOULDER IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT AND EXTENDING RADIALLY BEYOND THE TOOTHED PORTION BETWEEN THE TOOTHED PORTION AND THE HOUSING FOR ENGAGING THE SIDE OF THE BEAD TO PREVENT THE TOOTHED PORTION FROM CONTACTING THE SIDE OF THE CAN BELOW THE BEAD; A CAN GUIDE PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM THE WALL OF SAID HOUSING TO BEAR AGAINST THE SIDE OF SAID CAN THEREBY HOLDING THE CAN AWAY FROM CONTACT WITH THE FLAT SIDE OF SAID DRIVE WHEEL; A CUTTER MOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE HOUSING FOR SHIFTING MOVEMENT INTO CUTTING POSITION WITH THE DRIVING WHEEL BY ENGAGING THE TOP OF THE CAN ADJACENT THE BEAD, AND MEANS TO STEADY A CAN DURING A CAN-OPENING OPERATION AND TO DETECT THE SERVERING OF THE TOP FROM THE CAN. 